High rise building fire escape mechanism

ABSTRACT

A large winch on the building which lowers a cable to the ground, and this is secured at a 20 to 45 degree angle. persons can then escape the building by sliding down the wire using a speed control mechanism and a harness. Up to 1440 persons could be evacuated in one hour. More could be evacuated by using more cables such as one on each corner of the building.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. 60744451, filed Apr. 7, 2006, for HIGH RISE BUILDING FIRE ESCAPE MECHANISM, by Charles Dean Soucek, included by reference herein and for which benefit of the priority date is hereby claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fire escapes and, more particularly, to a practical means of escaping from a high rise building fire. At present there is no practical means of escape Helicopter rescue is too slow, and hazardous for the pilot, and the fire truck ladder cannot reach high enough to rescue persons on a high rise building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is presently no practical means of escape from a high rise building, when the fire is below you. The elevators do not work, and there is no way to get below the fire. The only hope is to go up to the top of the building and hope that a helicopter could get you off the building. Depending on the size of the helicopter only a few persons could be rescued at a time, probably only ten persons, and this would require a fairly large helicopter. It would then take at least 15 minutes to land, disembark and return for another load. As the fire gets hotter and there is a severe updraft, the helicopters would have difficulty landing on the building and also it would be hazardous for the pilots. Fire truck ladders can only reach up 7 or 8 floors, and then only one person can go down at a time. If five persons tried to get on the ladder, it would break. one of the problems that previous solutions did not answer is speed control. This invention makes all persons descend at the same speed, and the person cannot alter the speed of descent, so that there are no jam ups.

Other inventions have suggested using tubes which would drop down from the top, however these are not satisfactory because there is no mechanism for speed control. A large person may get stuck in the tube or simply grab the mesh and not descend thus blocking the tube whereas a baby would just drop down the entire distance without stopping. Fire truck ladders are too short for very tall buildings and only one person can go down a ladder at one time. Also ladders are hazardous because a fireman must go up the ladder to help the persons down. If five persons try to get on the ladder with the fireman, the ladder will break and all will be injured or killed.

Helicopters are too slow and hazardous, and fire truck ladders cannot reach that high. No other practical solutions have been advanced.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a cable for rescuing persons from a burning building.

It is another object of the invention to provide a speed control mechanism to control the speed of descent so that it is orderly

It is another object of the invention to make the harness long enough so that persons may not reach the cable or grab the cable or slow or regulate their descent speed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a fire resistant bag to enclose people during descent.

It is another object of the invention to provide for the fast and orderly removal of persons from the cable once they reach the bottom.

It is another object of the invention to provide for the reuse of the harnesses by winching them back up the building for more rescues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a large winch on the building which lowers a cable to the ground, and this is secured at a 20 to 45 degree angle. persons can then escape the building by sliding down the wire using a speed control mechanism and a harness. up to 1440 persons could be evacuated in one hour. more could be evacuated by using more cables such as one on each corner of the building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

FIG. 1 is a left perspective view of a view of a high rise fire escape with people descending on harnesses.

-   -   10 burning building     -   20 fire     -   30 descent cable     -   40 electric descent winch     -   60 descent harness;

FIG. 2 is a front detail view of a view of descent mechanism including clutch.

-   -   70 gear mechanism     -   80 centrifugal brake     -   90 cable contact wheel     -   100 lock     -   110 hinge     -   120 hole for attaching harness;

FIG. 3 is a left perspective view of an a. descent

-   -   b. descent harness     -   c. descent chair;

FIG. 4 is a left detail view of a man descending on harness

-   -   30 cable     -   60 harness FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a left view of a view of centrifugal brake

-   -   160 stationary ring     -   170 rotating circle;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a view of descent winch; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a view of harness winch.

For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a left perspective view of a high rise fire escape with people descending on harnesses.

FIG. 2 is a front detail view of a view of descent mechanism 12 including speed brake.

FIG. 3 is a left perspective view of a man descending the cable using the escape mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a left detail view of a centrifugal brake

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a

A. descent sack

B. descent harness

C. descent chair.

FIG. 6 is a left view of an electric winch for lowering and retrieving the descent cable 10. it is connected to the fire alarm and lowers the cable automatically when the fire alarm is triggered.

FIG. 7 is a left view of a rapid electric winch for retrieving harnesses from the ground level.

Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims. 

1. A high rise building fire escape mechanism for affording a practical means to escape from a burning high rise building, comprising: means for providing a means of escape by traveling down the cable with the help of a descent mechanism; means for safely carrying the person to ground level at the maximum speed which is safe, so as to allow as many people to escape in as short a time as possible; means for controlling the speed of the descending person to 12 miles per hour, so that all people descend at the same speed, and do not bump into each other. the speed needs to be relatively fast so that many people can escape, and also so that they are away from the fire as fast as possible. twelve miles per hour is considered to be the maximum speed that is still relatively safe, rigidly connected to said means for safely carrying the person to ground level at the maximum speed which is safe, so as to allow as many people to escape in as short a time as possible; means for securing the person to the descent mechanism during descent and to keep him/her far enough away from the mechanism so that they cannot interfere with the speed or function of the mechanism, rigidly connected to said means for safely carrying the person to ground level at the maximum speed which is safe, so as to allow as many people to escape in as short a time as possible; means for allowing an escape route in the form of a diagonal cable extending to the ground over which the descent mechanisms can travel and allow people to escape the burning building, rigidly connected to said means for providing a means of escape by traveling down the cable with the help of a descent mechanism; and means for rapidly bringing used harnesses back up to the roof top so that they can be reused.
 2. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for providing a means of escape by traveling down the cable with the help of a descent mechanism comprises a new attribute 1-cable must be strong enough to hold 50 or more persons especially on a 1000 foot high building descent cable.
 3. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for safely carrying the person to ground level at the maximum speed which is safe, so as to allow as many people to escape in as short a time as possible comprises a new attribute—must grip the cable and control the descent speed to 12 miles per hour, and support the harness carrying the person down the cable to the ground. it must also be capable of rapid release from the cable, and rapid hook up to the cable descent mechanism.
 4. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the speed of the descending person to 12 miles per hour, so that all people descend at the same speed, and do not bump into each other. the speed needs to be relatively fast so that many people can escape, and also so that they are away from the fire as fast as possible. twelve miles per hour is considered to be the maximum speed that is still relatively safe comprises a new attribute—this brake is to slow the descent speed to 12 miles per hour regardless of the size of the person descent mechanism brake.
 5. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for securing the person to the descent mechanism during descent and to keep him/her far enough away from the mechanism so that they cannot interfere with the speed or function of the mechanism comprises a new attribute—this container or harness must be strong enough to contain a person weighing 500 pounds safely, and must keep their hands away from the mechanism descent mechanism harness or container.
 6. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for allowing an escape route in the form of a diagonal cable extending to the ground over which the descent mechanisms can travel and allow people to escape the burning building comprises a new attribute—winch must rapidly lower the cable to the ground when a fire starts. the winch must also lock the cable to provide tension, and the winch must also retract the cable when the fire is over. the winch should also be capable of being controlled from the ground end descent cable winch.
 7. The high rise building fire escape mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for rapidly bringing used harnesses back up to the roof top so that they can be reused comprises a must be able to rapidly lower a cable 1000 feet and then rapidly bring it back up, carrying harnesses for reuse harness winch.
 8. A high rise building fire escape mechanism for affording a practical means to escape from a burning high rise building, comprising: a new attribute 1-cable must be strong enough to hold 50 or more persons especially on a 1000 foot high building descent cable, for providing a means of escape by traveling down the cable with the help of a descent mechanism; a new attribute—must grip the cable and control the descent speed to 12 miles per hour, and support the harness carrying the person down the cable to the ground. it must also be capable of rapid release from the cable, and rapid hook up to the cable descent mechanism, for safely carrying the person to ground level at the maximum speed which is safe, so as to allow as many people to escape in as short a time as possible; a new attribute—this brake is to slow the descent speed to 12 miles per hour regardless of the size of the person descent mechanism brake, for controlling the speed of the descending person to 12 miles per hour, so that all people descend at the same speed, and do not bump into each other. the speed needs to be relatively fast so that many people can escape, and also so that they are away from the fire as fast as possible. twelve miles per hour is considered to be the maximum speed that is still relatively safe, rigidly connected to said descent mechanism; a new attribute—this container or harness must be strong enough to contain a person weighing 500 pounds safely, and must keep their hands away from the mechanism descent mechanism harness or container, for securing the person to the descent mechanism during descent and to keep him/her far enough away from the mechanism so that they cannot interfere with the speed or function of the mechanism, rigidly connected to said descent mechanism; a new attribute—winch must rapidly lower the cable to the ground when a fire starts. the winch must also lock the cable to provide tension, and the winch must also retract the cable when the fire is over. the winch should also be capable of being controlled from the ground end descent cable winch, for allowing an escape route in the form of a diagonal cable extending to the ground over which the descent mechanisms can travel and allow people to escape the burning building, rigidly connected to said descent cable; and a must be able to rapidly lower a cable 1000 feet and then rapidly bring it back up, carrying harnesses for reuse harness winch, for rapidly bringing used harnesses back up to the roof top so that they can be reused.
 9. A high rise building fire escape mechanism for affording a practical means to escape from a burning high rise building, comprising: a new attribute 1-cable must be strong enough to hold 50 or more persons especially on a 1000 foot high building descent cable, for providing a means of escape by traveling down the cable with the help of a descent mechanism; a new attribute—must grip the cable and control the descent speed to 12 miles per hour, and support the harness carrying the person down the cable to the ground. it must also be capable of rapid release from the cable, and rapid hook up to the cable descent mechanism, for safely carrying the person to ground level at the maximum speed which is safe, so as to allow as many people to escape in as short a time as possible; a new attribute—this brake is to slow the descent speed to 12 miles per hour regardless of the size of the person descent mechanism brake, for controlling the speed of the descending person to 12 miles per hour, so that all people descend at the same speed, and do not bump into each other. the speed needs to be relatively fast so that many people can escape, and also so that they are away from the fire as fast as possible. twelve miles per hour is considered to be the maximum speed that is still relatively safe, rigidly connected to said descent mechanism; a new attribute—this container or harness must be strong enough to contain a person weighing 500 pounds safely, and must keep their hands away from the mechanism descent mechanism harness or container, for securing the person to the descent mechanism during descent and to keep him/her far enough away from the mechanism so that they cannot interfere with the speed or function of the mechanism, rigidly connected to said descent mechanism; a new attribute—winch must rapidly lower the cable to the ground when a fire starts. the winch must also lock the cable to provide tension, and the winch must also retract the cable when the fire is over. the winch should also be capable of being controlled from the ground end descent cable winch, for allowing an escape route in the form of a diagonal cable extending to the ground over which the descent mechanisms can travel and allow people to escape the burning building, rigidly connected to said descent cable; and a must be able to rapidly lower a cable 1000 feet and then rapidly bring it back up, carrying harnesses for reuse harness winch, for rapidly bringing used harnesses back up to the roof top so that they can be reused. 